[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 61 (Tuesday, April 17, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4617-S4618]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 150--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT PUBLIC 
SERVANTS SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND CONTINUED SERVICE 
TO THE NATION DURING PUBLIC SERVICE RECOGNITION WEEK, MAY 7 THROUGH 13, 
                                  2007

  Mr. AKAKA (for himself, Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Lieberman, Ms. Collins, 
Mr. Levin, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Carper, Mr. Warner, and Mr. Lautenberg) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs:

                              S. Res. 150

       Whereas Public Service Recognition Week provides an 
     opportunity to recognize the important contributions of 
     public servants and honor the diverse men and women who meet 
     the needs of the Nation through work at all levels of 
     government;
       Whereas millions of individuals work in government service 
     in every city, county, and State across America and in 
     hundreds of cities abroad;
       Whereas public service is a noble calling involving a 
     variety of challenging and rewarding professions;
       Whereas Federal, State, and local governments are 
     responsive, innovative, and effective because of the 
     outstanding work of public servants;
       Whereas the United States of America is a great and 
     prosperous Nation, and public service employees contribute 
     significantly to that greatness and prosperity;
       Whereas the Nation benefits daily from the knowledge and 
     skills of these highly trained individuals;
       Whereas public servants--
       (1) provide vital strategic support functions to our 
     military and serve in the National Guard and Reserves;
       (2) fight crime and fire;
       (3) ensure equal access to secure, efficient, and 
     affordable mail service;
       (4) deliver social security and medicare benefits;
       (5) fight disease and promote better health;
       (6) protect the environment and the Nation's parks;
       (7) enforce laws guaranteeing equal employment 
     opportunities and healthy working conditions;
       (8) defend and secure critical infrastructure;
       (9) help the Nation recover from natural disasters and 
     terrorist attacks;
       (10) teach and work in our schools and libraries;
       (11) develop new technologies and explore the earth, moon, 
     and space to help improve our understanding of how our world 
     changes;
       (12) improve and secure our transportation systems;
       (13) keep the Nation's economy stable; and
       (14) defend our freedom and advance United States interests 
     around the world;
       Whereas members of the uniformed services and civilian 
     employees at all levels of government make significant 
     contributions to the general welfare of the United States, 
     and are on the front lines in the fight against terrorism and 
     in maintaining homeland security;
       Whereas public servants work in a professional manner to 
     build relationships with other countries and cultures in 
     order to better represent America's interests and promote 
     American ideals;
       Whereas public servants alert Congress and the public to 
     government waste, fraud, abuse, and dangers to public health;
       Whereas the men and women serving in the Armed Forces of 
     the United States, as well as those skilled trade and craft 
     Federal employees who provide support to their efforts, are 
     committed to doing their jobs regardless of the 
     circumstances, and contribute greatly to the security of the 
     Nation and the world;
       Whereas public servants have bravely fought in armed 
     conflict in defense of this Nation and its ideals and deserve 
     the care and benefits they have earned through their 
     honorable service;
       Whereas government workers have much to offer, as 
     demonstrated by their expertise and innovative ideas, and 
     serve as examples by passing on institutional knowledge to 
     train the next generation of public servants;
       Whereas May 7 through 13, 2007, has been designated Public 
     Service Recognition Week to honor America's Federal, State, 
     and local government employees; and
       Whereas Public Service Recognition Week is celebrating its 
     23rd anniversary through job fairs, student activities, and 
     agency exhibits: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) commends public servants for their outstanding 
     contributions to this great Nation during Public Service 
     Recognition Week and throughout the year;
       (2) salutes their unyielding dedication and spirit for 
     public service;
       (3) honors those government employees who have given their 
     lives in service to their country;
       (4) calls upon a new generation to consider a career in 
     public service as an honorable profession; and
       (5) encourages efforts to promote public service careers at 
     all levels of government.

  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, today I rise to submit a resolution to 
honor Federal, State, and local government employees during Public 
Service Recognition Week. I am proud to be joined in this effort by 
Senators Voinovich, Lieberman, Collins, Levin, Stevens, Carper, Warner, 
and Lautenberg and by Representative Danny Davis, chairman of the House 
Federal Workforce Subcommittee, who is submitting this resolution in 
the House.
  We all recognize the important work performed by public servants and 
the impact they have on all of our lives. Over hundreds of years, our 
country has grown and prospered due in large part to the dedication of 
public servants at all levels of government. Each day public servants, 
in small and large ways, work to maintain, and in many cases enhance, 
the quality of our lives.
  Whether they are saving lives as firefighters, police officers, or 
members of the Coast Guard; preserving our environment by patrolling 
parks, discovering new ways to live ``green,'' or

[[Page S4618]]

working at wastewater treatment plants; working to improve government 
services by eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse; or working to keep our 
Nation safe as members of our armed forces or as diplomats, public 
servants perform duties with excellence and professionalism that 
Americans rely on every day.
  Public Service Recognition Week is a great occasion to draw attention 
to and underscore the valuable contributions of those who dedicate 
themselves to public service. For more than 20 years, the Nation has 
participated in a week-long celebration to highlight their 
achievements. This year, the 23rd annual Public Service Recognition 
Week will take place May 7-13, 2007. State and Federal agencies across 
the Nation plan to host activities to honor their achievements and 
improve public understanding of their contributions.
  As the Federal Government is facing what the Office of Personnel 
Management calls a retirement tsunami, Public Service Recognition Week 
also provides an opportunity for the Federal Government to showcase the 
rewarding and challenging careers in the public sector and inspire a 
new generation of public servants. Working for the public good is a 
high and noble calling, and this annual celebration is the perfect 
opportunity for Federal agencies to recruit new employees.
  I want to thank all public employees for the work they do day after 
day to make government effective, and I urge my colleagues and all 
Americans to join in Federal, State, and local celebrations and 
recognize the outstanding contributions made by public servants to our 
daily lives. I ask my colleagues for their support for this resolution.

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